Tasteless

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. Matthew 5:13.....One reason men pay so little attention to the Gospel today is the tasteless living of so many Christians. Vance Havner I have Havner's quote in my prayer journal, and whenever I come across it, it grips me. It seems easy to read Matthew 5:13 and agree with what it says but never ask ourselves if it applies to us. In our faithwalk, have we lost our flavor? Have we become tasteless Christians? Dwell on that for a bit. Elsewhere in my journal I have another quote, I believe from A.W. Tozer. "Has anyone ever remarked about us that there is a strong presence of the Holy Spirit about us?" People, even unbelievers, sense when someone has an intimacy with Jesus Christ, that they know Him, that they keep close company with Him. Scripture tells us that the disciples were recognized as having been with Jesus. Do people recognize that we keep company with Him as well? The Holy Spirit is moving across the face of our nation and the world right now a move of the Spirit is happening in many places and we can praise His Name for that, but in so many other places, such a move is not happening. A great part of the reason is the presence of tasteless churches, filled with tasteless "believers," preached to and led by tasteless pastors. They are present in their communities, and many may know that they are, but they are not a flavor and an aroma of Jesus Christ. They are not impacting a lost world by their presence, and sadly, are instead impacted by the values of the surrounding culture. I don't want to lose sight of how the above verse closes. Not only is the salt thrown out because of its being tasteless, it's ground under the feet of those who pass by. Much of the church, as they have lost their savor, have also lost their power. It's resulted in their being marginalized and ignored by the world that so desperately needs them to be alive in Christ. That world spirit is grinding them under its feet. May we, His church, repent of anyplace where we've become tasteless believers, and seek His renewing and empowering. May we do this corporately and individually. We are called to represent Him as He is wherever we are. In our neighborhoods, schools, workplaces, and yes, most especially in His church. Has anyone lately, as Tozer asks, remarked on there being something radically different about us from most people, that we have a sense of the supernatural God about us? If not, perhaps it's time to repent of our tastelessness and seek a refiring of His Holy Spirit. To be, perhaps for the first time, a savor and aroma of Jesus Christ and His Kingdom. Blessings, Pastor O